The experience of traumatic events, psychological distress, and social support: links to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and trends with age in a group of older Australians.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is important to reduce disease-associated morbidity and mortality in an ageing global population. While older adults are more likely than younger adults to accept vaccines, some remain hesitant. We sought to understand how traumatic events, psychological distress and social support contribute to older adults' intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and whether these experiences change with age. METHODS: We analysed survey data collected as part of the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study in a population of Australian adults aged 60 years and over. Data were derived from the COVID Insights study; a series of supplementary surveys about how participants experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Higher intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine was associated with greater social support (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):1.08; 95%CI:1.06-1.11; p <.001) while lower intention was associated with personally experiencing a serious illness, injury or assault in the last 12 months (aOR:0.79; 95% CI:0.64-0.98; p =.03). Social support and the experience of traumatic events increased significantly with age, while psychological distress decreased. CONCLUSIONS: There may be factors beyond disease-associated risks that play a role in vaccine acceptance with age. Older Australians on the younger end of the age spectrum may have specific needs to address their hesitancy that may be overlooked.

Factors associated with vaccination intention and uptake over time in a sample of older Australians.

This study sought to identify the behavioural and social drivers of vaccination in 16,745 older Australians. We analysed and compared influences on COVID-19 vaccination intention and uptake using prospectively collected survey data from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study. Vaccination intention increased with older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1.03; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.04; p = .002), a belief that the vaccine is important for the person's own health (aOR: 5.17; 95 % CI: 4.23-6.24; p < .001), is safe (aOR:2.64; 95 % CI: 2.19-3.2; p < .001), and trusted by the person (aOR:6.79; 95 % CI: 5.59-8.26 p < .001); concern about contracting COVID-19 (aOR:1.78; 95 % CI: 1.47-2.17; p < .001); having enough information about COVID-19 vaccines (aOR:1.99; 95 % CI: 1.65-2.29; p < .001); a belief that most adults will receive a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR:2.31; 95 % CI: 1.93-2.77; p < .001); and a belief that family and friends wanted the person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR:6.07; 95 % CI: 5.06-7.27; p < .001). The same factors contributed to increased vaccine uptake, with the exception of age and the belief that the person had enough information about the vaccine. Concern that the vaccine will cause a serious reaction was associated with both lower intention (aOR:0.35; 95 % CI: 0.29-0.43; p < .001) and lower uptake (aOR:0.61; 95 % CI: 0.46-0.81; p < .001) while lower intention was also associated with low decisional autonomy (aOR:0.37; 95 % CI: 0.22-0.62; p < .001). Intentions changed over time and a change towards vaccination was associated with perceptions of vaccine safety. Access barriers played a role in the non-vaccination of otherwise intending older Australians. Messaging that is adaptive to safety concerns, emphasises vaccine benefits, leverages social norms, and targets people who make decisions for older Australians may be helpful for influencing vaccination intentions and increasing vaccine uptake.